Hello all, my name is Dan, and I have a persistent habit of getting involved with the internal combustion engine.
I spent 8 years in the automotive repair business as a tech, then service writer. I started to rethink my career path and went back to my first interest-aviation.
As I started my pilot training I was soon offered a position on a SCCA World Challenge GT team. The driver of that team moved on to a part-time NASCAR Craftsmen Truck racing stint, and asked if I would come along. I did. Most amount of work for the least amount of money I ever experienced. Those people work hard, six and a half days a week.
With that career behind me, I did just about the biggest career u-turn ever.
I became a production assistant for major and not so major recording acts, I became a roadie! Long story short, I've played drums for 25 years, (started when I was 14) like everything else, I had to know how they worked. I was taken under the wing of a very smart and creative boutique drumset manufacturer and learned the ropes from him. I did some repair work on the side for a local recording studio and everything just fell into place from there.
The road is tough for me, I'm 6'6" and I DO NOT fit in the bus sleeping berths. Plus, it gets old seeing the same act, night after night. You don't keep up with your friends and family, and I live a very clean and healthy lifestyle which is not what's generally available when you're on the road.
Back to the car stuff:
My first car was a 1965 GTO, it was rusted, twisted, and forever in a state of dis-repair- But I was 15, and didn't care.
Over the next ten years I would go through three more GTOs before completing what I though would be my last, old muscle car-another 1965 GTO!
This one was my first frame-off, everything gone through car that I bought from the second owner. Parked outside a barn in Arizona for 15 years. It smelled worse then it looked! But alas, it placed in three regional Semi-Mod Pontiac-Oakland club events, and it would turn an 11.85 in the quarter in street trim, which back in 1993, was pretty quick.
I sold that car to purchase a house back in 1999, and thought it would be the last, but,,,,,
this stuff is rrrrreally hard to shake.
So I've got this cousin, he's well, , the kinda guy that changes cars every couple months. One day he pulls up in a 2007 ZO6 Corvette, he throws me the keys and I am so stinking intoxicated by this 3.8 seconds to sixty, 190 MPH, AC is on and it doesn't overheat in traffic wundercar that I HAVE TO HAVE ONE. The engine's HP and drivability that is.
You see, I know that all new cars no matter how great, depreciate way to quick for me. So the search was on to find a worthy recipient for an LS engine swap. First it was a 1965 Chevelle, naah- had enough A-body stuff. then it was a 66-67 Chevy II. Prices just exploded and I wasn't to keen on any of the aftermarket solutions to the LS install then. How about a 1968-1970 Nova? Plenty of aftermarket support, thanks to the Camaro, Camaro, hmmm.
I've never owned a Camaro. Everyone should right? Actually before I bought the 69, I owned a 68 for about a week, so technically, this is my second Camaro- see I'm not that wet behind the ears.
Looking back at my past mechanical mentors, I've always been taught that the greatest bits of engineering are usually from the original equipment engineers. It not until the bean counters get involved do things get cheap.
So, I was drawn to the manufactures that utilize OE equipment and/or design like Detroit Speed, Art Morrison, and ATS. I purchased a LM Chicane subframe and kit from Tyler and decided to use ATS almost exclusively for parts and advice.
My goal for the car is to utilize as much factory parts as possible, keep the flashiness to a minimum, and be sure to make it easy and enjoyable, like the ZO6, to drive.
No more big cam, poor mileage, 3600rpm at 60mph, no A/C for me!!
So, on to the car:
A 54,000 mile beauty from Marin County.
mmmm, gorgeous, just before a local media blaster almost destroyed every panel:
Tyler's favorite photo:
L76 test fit:
Dog is playing peek-a-boo:
So I'm now at that stage, the one where you start to see the fruits of your labor.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
So I decided to build a new 1969 Camaro
Hybrid Mode
